FINGERPRINTING METHODS FOR SOURCE IDENTIFICATION,
AGE-DATING AND IMPROVED REMEDIATION ACCURACY:
Session Three, Part 1: Tree-Ring Fingerprinting and other Advances
Learn up-to-date fingerprinting methods for litigation support, as well as improving remediation accuracy
Get Answers About Isotopic Fingerprinting:
Stable isotopes are a common tool for differentiating differences in organic contaminants and are routinely used in source identification. Isotopic fractionation and enrichment factors are being used more often for common chemistry conditions. Degradation-related isotope effects are strong for the atoms included in the chemical bond being broken while the remaining atoms experience weak secondary isotope effects.
Session one is dedicated to isotopes for environmental forensics. The two-part session unveils the mystery of conventional isotopic wisdom and takes applications to the most sensitive analysis.
This Part will cover:
- Tracking contaminants in tree rings
- Practical considerations & limitations
- Age-dating multiple consecutive releases to the release year
- Tree-ring fingerprinting as a sustainable site characterization tool
- Applications at mitigated sites
- Specific applications for crude oil & petroleum products, chlorinated solvents, & metals
- What does the future holds? Independent Vs. Inter-dependent use of fingerprinting methods
Online Course Background:
"Fingerprinting" unlocks the mystery of contaminant source identification, age-dating and allocation.
Laboratory and field advances are redefining environmental forensics for a spectrum of contaminants (e.g., crude oil & distillates, chlorinated solvents, metals, PCBs, PAHs, perchlorate, nutrients).
These advances are capable of revealing multiple releases in common chemistry conditions. Emerging technologies are being used today for more applications, with more certainty and more financial assurances. Technology has progresses since the times we could simply differentiate old contamination from newer releases.
Legal arguments are part of environmental forensics as much as technology. Defending or arguing against a fingerprinting process contains hidden challenges that are known to attorneys and expert witnesses. Don't be ill-prepared for a fingerprinting project that will be scrutinized by others.
Instructors Bio
Dr. Ioana G. Petrisor
Biochemist
Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Forensics Journal
Author of "Environmental Forensics Fundamentals - A Practical Guide"
Dr. Ioana G. Petrisor, Biochemist, Editor-in-Chief of Environmental Forensics Journal and author of the book "Environmental Forensics Fundamentals - A Practical Guide, has 25 years of experience in the environmental field as a consultant, scientific researcher and instructor.
She uses state-of-art fingerprinting methods to track the source and age of released contaminants, helping national and international clients recover costs in complex cases involving multiple contaminants and releases in time and space. Dr. Petrisor is a regularly invited keynote speaker at national and international meetings, has taught both on-line and in-class workshops and courses, and has conducted innovative research for U.S. DOE, U.S. DOD, and the European Community on environmental characterization, risk assessment, and development of innovative remedial technologies for soil, sediments, and water.
Her extensive publication experience includes an invention patent, a text book, 6 book chapters, 12 editorials, and over 70 articles. She is teaching both on-line and in-class courses. Dr. Petrisor has a PhD in Biology (Environmental Biotechnology) from Romanian Academy of Sciences and a Bachelor in Chemistry (major Biochemistry) from Bucharest University in Romania. She has completed an UNESCO training program in Plant Molecular Genetics at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and is the recipient of "The Greatest Award of Successful Careers for Outstanding Scientific Results and Professional Activity" issued by Cosmopolitan Magazine, Romania in 2000.
